Buckle.



PATENT'EID MAY 15, 1906 G. H. FORD.

BUCKLE. Mfiflwmiow FILED FEB. a, 1903 W/TNESSE: VENTO)? *g N w W, W R'Qm UEORGE HARE FORD, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May -15, 1906.

Application filed February 6,1903. Serial No. 142,201.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE HARE FORD, of the city and county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have inventor a new i and useful Improvement in Buckles, of which the fol-lowing is a full, clear, and exact description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof, and in whi.ch

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a buckle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view with a portion of the webbing of the suspender partially attached. Fig. 3 is a similar view with this portion of the webbin in place. Fig. 4 is a reverse view of the buckle with the loop portion or lower reach of the webbing not yet attached; Fig. 5, a similar view with the. loop portion or lower reach of the webbing in place, and Fig. 6 is a vertical section on lines 6 6 of Fig. 5.

In all figures similar letters of reference represent like parts.

My invention relates toan im )rovement in buckles, and more particularly to that class known as slide-buckles, consisting of a single piece of metal through which is passed one portion of the webbing or strip of the article to which the buckle is secured and" to which the end of the other portion of the webbing is secured.

Hitherto when buckles of this class have been applied to suspenders, braces, or similar articles it has been necessary to pass the webbing lengthwise through slots or loops.

The present invention has for one of its objects the production of a buckle to which the webbing may beattached by inserting it laterally into the buckle, thus greatly reducing the time required in connecting the buckle with the suspender or other article.

A further. object is the production of a buckle having two inwardly-projecting lugs forming a divided strip of metal on whichthc loop or lower reach of the webbing'may be readily attached, these lugs forming one side of a slot through which the other portion or upper reach of the Webbing may be passed. These lugs are also located at the lower end of the buckle, so that while the looped end of the webbing is being attached the other portion may be folded out of the way, and when the parts are all connected a sufficiently vigorous downward pull on the looped end of,

the webbing draws the buckle downward without tending to twist or turn 1t, which would lncrease the tension.

J between their ends.

All these several improvements are-set forth and claimed, together with other minor features, hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings fora more $8.1:- ticular description, the parts designate by the letter A represent a slide-buckle,with a tongue B of suitable design at its upperend. At its lower end aretwo lugs (l, projecting from the side inwardly toward each other and having a space or opening D between their ends. Between the tongue B and the lug C is a series of slots E, F, and G, leaving between them stri s of metal H and 1'. The strip H is divide to form two oppositelydisposed lugs extending inwardly toward each other and leaving a space or openm The strip I is raise from the plane of the buckle as shown more particularly in Fig. 6. In attaclnn the webbing to this buckle both portions and Y are put in place by passing the sides thereof through the openings J and D, so that it is unnecessary to pull either art of the webbing lengthwise through any oop or slot. This greatly reduces the time and trouble of assembling the parts. The longer portion orupper' reach of the webbing X may be put in place (as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3) sothat it is passed laterally over the lugs 11 and C to lie under the strip I and tongue B. The loop Z of the shorter portion or lower reach ofthe webbing Y may then he slipped laterally onto lugs C behind the portion X of the webbing, so that the parts when assembled will lie in the positions shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The attaching of the loop Z is more readily accomplished owing to the fact that the webbing X may be folded out of the way over the lugs C.

When the parts are assembled, an upward pull on the tongue B slides the buckle upward on the portion X of the webbing, while adownward pull on the webbing Y slidesthe buckle downward. .ln this latter case twisting or cramping of the buckle is avoided by 'of material is effected, together with the advantage in assenibling the several parts and the increased e'ilicicncy in the performance of the functions.

Having now described my invention, what roo I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a buckle, the combination with a frame, consisting of a single piece of sheet metal, having a plurality of transverse slots,

and the alternating cross-strips of metal bounding said slots divided to form openings between its inwardly-projecting ends; of a piece of webbing having its lower reach attached to one of the divided cross-strilps and the upper reach extended through t e slot bounded by the divided strip to which the lower reach is attached, so that the upper reach is normally held in proximity to the I5 end of the lower reach, substantially as described.

2. In a buckle, the combination with a frame consisting of a sing e piece of sheet metal having three transverse slots, the

-.20 cross-strip at one end of said buckle bounding one of said slots being divided to form an opening between its inwardly projecting ends, and the cross-stri of metal bounding the other side of said sl ot being on a plane different from that of the other cross-strips;

of a piece of webbing having its lower reach attached to said divided cross-strip and its upper reach extended through the slot bounded by said di ided strip and the strip 0 on said different plane, substantially as decross-strip at one end of said buckle bound ing one of said slots being divided to form an opening between its inwardly projecting ends, and the cross-strip separating the other two slots being likewise divided; of a piece of webbing having its lower reach attached to the divided end cross-strip, and its upper reach extended through said three slots, substantially as described.

4. As an article of manufacture, a buckle, consisting of a single piece of sheet metal, having three transverse slots, and the crossstrip of metal at one end of said buckle bounding one of said slots divided to form an opening between its inwardly projecting ends, and the cross-strip of metal separating the other two slots being likewise divided, substantially as described.

5. As an article of manufacture, a buckle, consisting of a single piece of sheet metal having a tongue at one end; transverse slots; a strip divided to form an opening separating two of said slots; and a similarly-divided strip bounding one of said slots, the latter being at one end of said buckle and a crossstrip, being on a plane different from that of the buckle, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on the 17th day of January, 1903.

GEORGE HARE FORD. Witnesses:

JOHN W. BRISTOL, SAMUEL H. FrsHER. 

